They were all on my Elusive Eight want list. After dinner I rushed out to some meeting or rehearsal, thinking that I'd scan and put them away later that evening.

I don't remember what happened. I guess I forgot about them, or decided to do it later. The cards were placed back in the envelope and set aside.

When I went looking for them later, they were not to be found. I looked in drawers, near the computer, on my bedside table, with the other cards. Nowhere. A sickening feeling started to form in my stomach. I renewed my search with vigor. That stack of papers. With my other cards. With my other cards on the bookshelf. With my other cards in a box. Nothing.

I let it go for a few days. Ah. That special place where I put the important papers. That's where I left them. No. Inside the cover of that book I want to read next. Back to the stacks of paper. Near the other bills.

My wife had noticed that I was actually doing some cleaning while looking for the cards. That made her happy that I was decluttering, but made me sad that I still hadn't found the.

Time to retrace my steps. I finally found the envelope. It had fallen off the stack of a clump of papers, down near my dresser. They had been found. There was much rejoicing.

So, kids. This is a true, but cautionary tale. Get a system in place to process your cards. Know where they are. I don't care if you scan them, blog about them, file them a month or even a year later. But know where they are.

So, a big thank you to whatever kind and benevolent reader took the time to go through my wantlists, procure and send me these cards. I'll be a better steward next time.